The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-17
ATRIpLE ALLIANCE.

did not take precisely this view Of her
merits but then, as wei all know, women
are notoriously jealous Still, even very
pretty girl max be considered as abusing
her privileges if she engages herself TO
more than two men at once Now tins
WAS precisely what Miss Carmichael had
done. and was not little perPlexed by
the consequences Of her rashness- Not
only had she, unknown to and in diso6e-
dience Of her people, kept on bereneage-
ment with Bertie Haselrig Of the artillery
but. TO please her parents and also her
own ambition, she had consented
month OF two since TO accept Mr.. Lori
mer. son and heir 10 old Sir james Lori
mer. And now, % crown all, fortnight
AGO al the Marsdens ball, Lord Liscarrol
had proposed, and she had not been able
to refuse him.
Concerning Captain Haselrig she had
little anxiety, as he bad gone TO India on
being forbidden the house by Mr. CarIni-
chael. who considered the handsome, inn
pecunious soldier by no means an eligi-
bic match for his only daughter and heir
es. But it had taxed even her ingenuity
10 keen Mr.. Loriner and Lord Liscarrol
ignorant Of each others claims on her.
Lorimer certainly did not suspect the ex-
isience ola rival; but Liscarrol had more
than once resented the air Of proprietor
ship assumed by the former, and had
pressed Miss Carmichael TO allow him at
once to apply TO her father. This was
horribly perplexing. Mr.. Carmichael was
a wealthy. self-made man, whose fortune
had sprung, as he was only too fond OF
boasting. from the traditional four-penny
bit. lie professed ultra-radical opinions,
but in his heart was as fond Of a lord rs
most people, and Dora well knew would
have been as delighted at her latest con-
auest as She herself could have been.
still. she felt convinced that, his word
once pledged, he would not lei herthnow
over Charles Lorimer, even for such a
party as Lord Liscarroi. SO she told her
lover a doleful story Of stern parents an
unsvmpathetic suitor, and an oppressed
daughter, divided Between duty and dis
ike 10 the match proposed.
But are you engaged 70 that cub,
Lorilner p" asked Liscarrol, very impa-
tiently.
No, oh, no certainly not engaged
but 1t is very possible | might have be
come 70 to please dear papa had ! not
mety YOU"
This, said with the sweetest timidity
and bashful look, had the full effect in
tended.
But now, Dora p
Well. now must make the poor old
fellow understand il is impossible-give
him his congo. in fact, 80 decidedly that,
even self-satisiied as he is, he can make
no mistake, and then coax papa as best ]
can
Still Liscarrol insisted.
But, don't you see, Lord Liscarrol-
well, Arthur. then-that ifyou will 90 to
papa directly have sent of Mr.. Lorimer
he will suspect what has occurred, and
will hesitate TO treat you in the same
way? For. do what / will, can't help
his considering me engaged TO that hor-
rid man."
"well, when will you give Lorimer his
conge?r
Tomorrow morning. He is coming
about some botanical tickets, and ! will
speak to him them
@Nery well, dearest and ] may look
in TO hear the result of the interview, may
| not ?'
And so il was settled. Still, it must be
confessed the situation was troublesome
one, and, sitting in the library the next
day, Dora thought over her plans rather
anxiously.
Mrs. Carmichael was, or fanciei herself
an invalid, and rarely showed herself till
lunch land not always then, though
ready enough for her social duties" later
in the day., 50 her daughter was at full
liberty to arrange matters as she pleased.
Accordingly she told the butler that if
Mr.. Lorimer called he was at once TO be
shown in to her in the library, and that
if Lord Escarrol should call in the mean
time, he was to be told she would soon
be disengaged, and be requested TO await
her in the drawingToom.
So far so good.
But a ring at the door-bell startled her
from her reverie, and she waited, expect
ing TO see Lorimer ushered in. Instead
of that the visitor was ushered up stairs,
and the butler announced Captain Ha-
selrig.r The blow almost staggered her,
but pulling herselftogether she went into
the drawing-room, and next moment was
clasped in Haselrig's arms. A few words
suffced TO explain his presence. The
death of an old uncle, his godfather, had
made him master Of a rather valuable
property, and on the strength Of this inn
provement in his position the young
man had at once rushed back from India
and, as he fondly hoped, successfully to
plead his suit Whatever heart she pos
sessed-it was little enough-beionged TO
Haselrig, and she had felt genuine sor-
row when her father so entirely declined
his proposals for a momen; she wonder
ed if, after all, Haselrig's love might not
be worth sacrifice. OF Lorimer she did
not think for one seconl, but she did re
member Lscarrol, and this dampened
her arior. Haselrig was handsome and
fairly rich now, bu. 50 was Lord Liscar-
rol, and if her love for him was not so
great as for Haselric, she adored his cor
onet. So the old story was once more re-
lated. and by lis means she Induced Cap
tain Haselrig TO forego his purpose of see
ing her father until she herself should
give him leave to speak, and at last, to her
great relief, she seat him of, if not salts
fed, vet certainly more ia love than
ever
During her conversation with Captain
Haselrig, Dora's sharp ears had caught
the sound Of the doorbeil. SO she was
fully prepared TO hear that Mr. Lorimer
was in the library and went to him at
once. But what She did not know. and
in her hurry would not give the butler
time 10 tell her, was that Lori Liscarrol
had also arrived and was at the moment
in the morning-room. Now. Lord Las